Queensland and Tasmania will lock horns in the Pura Cup final at Brisbane's Gabba ground next week, after both sides completed outright victories with a day to spare in their final matches of the league stages. Queensland fought back from a 41-run first-innings deficit to beat Victoria in a tense match at Brisbane, thanks largely to a resolute 61 by Martin Love. Chasing 164 for victory, Queensland limped home with five wickets to spare after many uncertain moments.

Tasmania ensured they would also reach the final when they thrashed New South Wales by ten wickets at Hobart. Shane Jurgensen crowned a wonderful game by snatching a hat-trick on his way to 5 for 38 in NSW's second innings of 238. Jurgensen, a fast bowler, finished with match figures of 11 for 103 against an NSW side missing many of its senior players, on Test duty in South Africa.

The wins for Queensland and Tasmanian wins ended any hopes Western Australia or South Australia might have had of sneaking into the final by securing a full-points victory at Perth. The result of their match is now academic. WA closed the third day at 220 for 5, with little left-hander Chris Rogers unbeaten on 83 – just 17 runs short of achieving the rare feat of two centuries in the same match after his unbeaten 101 in the first innings.

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